Melbourne are preparing for a Manly side still licking its wounds after its crushing exit from the NRL finals series last year at the hands of the Storm.
Melbourne swept aside the Sea Eagles in their preliminary final last season with a 40-12 victory on their way to claim the NRL title.
It was the latest meeting in a long history between the fierce rivals, which includes the infamous “Battle of Brookvale” in 2011 as well as their two grand finals in 2007 and 2008.
“I’m sure they’re looking forward to the challenge of coming down here after what happened in the semi finals last year,” said Storm fullback Billy Slater ahead of their Monday night clash at AAMI Park.
Melbourne started their 2012 premiership defence with seven straight wins, but shock losses in the past two rounds against Canberra and Penrith have seen them slide from the top of the table.
While admitting they had hit a flat spot, Slater said Manly was a game they always got up for.
“We’ve played a lot of big games against each other – grand final, semi-finals – and it’s always a great contest when we play so it’s probably easier to get up for those games,” Slater said.
“They’re in the same boat, they’re coming off a loss, and they’re going to be looking to play some good football.”
Manly, two points behind the Storm in fourth place, were beaten 16-4 by the second-placed Roosters last round.
Slater said his teammates had a “spring in their step” as they completed their final training session in the sun at AAMI Park.
Centre Justin O’Neill trained with his knee strapped but appeared in no danger of missing the match.
The Storm know they will have to contain Sea Eagles danger-man Jorge Taufua.
The barnstorming centre has scored the first and last try of a match three times this year and leads the competition in line-breaks with 12.
Slater said his side needed to treasure possession – something they failed to do in a poor first half against the Panthers, but there was no panic in the ranks.
“We know what we need to work on, we know the errors that are putting us under pressure and releasing the pressure from the opposition so we need to rectify them.
“It’s certainly not crisis times down here yet.”